Time-lag relay.



W. H. PETERSEN.

TIME LAG RELAY.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.28,1915.

1 ,200,64:6 Patented Oct. 10, 1916.

imam

FTC

TIME-LAG RELAY.

Application filed December 28, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILIIELM HENNING Pnrnnsi'zx, a citizen of theKingdom of Sweden, residing at \Viisterfis, Sweden, have invented newand useful Improvements in Time-Lag Relays, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to time lag relays for closing or breakingelectric circuits of the type in which the retardation is effected by aliquid flowing slowly from one portion of a receptacle to anotherportion thereof. Hitherto existing devices of this kind are generallyconnected with several inconveniences. Thus for instance, they are tosuch an extent depending on frictional resistances, that they easilycome to a standstill; further, certain parts of the devices are exposedto great tear, so that they become soon worn out, while in other casesthe devices require too great driving force without possessing,nevertheless, sufficient safety of working. In other constructions ofthis class the time cannot be extended by repeated closing of theworking current, it being necessary first to allow the apparatus toconclude its work during the determined period.

The object of the invention is to devise a time lag relay for closing orbreaking electric circuits by means of a liquid flowing from a part of areceptacle to another part thereof, which relay is of a simple, durableand reliable construction not liable to get out of order and,consequently, free from the inconveniences mentioned.

In carrying out the invention a receptacle containing the liquid ispivoted in a pivotally mounted frame or the like in such manner, thatwhen the receptacle is moved to working position, while the liquid atthe same time moves from one part of the receptacle to another partthereof, the center of gravity common to the receptacle and the liquidlies between the vertical planes through the pivots of the receptacleand of the frame, while, after the liquid has flowed back to the firstnamed part of the receptacle, the point of gravity is moved past thevertical plane through the pivot of the frame.

A constructional form of the invention adapted as a switch for staircase lighting is shown in the, accompanying drawing in which Figure 1shows the device partially in' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 10, 1916.

Serial No. 68,998.

vertical section and in position of rest. Fig. 2 is a horizontal viewthereof. Fig. 3 shows the device in the first stage of working position,the receptacle being attracted by the electromagnet. Fig. at shows thedevice in the second stage of working position, the receptacle beingreleased from the electromagnet, before the liquid has returned to itsnormal position in the receptacle.

Referring to the drawing, 1 designates a closed angular receptacle ofsheet iron, which is provided with a partition wall 2 tightly connectedwith the side walls and bottom of the receptacle, but leaving an openspace at the top. The said partition wall is provided with a smallaperture 3. The lower portion of the receptacle 1 is in the positionshown in Fig. 1 partially filled with a liquid. The receptacle 1 is bymeans of pivots 4 pivoted in a frame 5, which in turn by edges or pivotsis pivotally mounted in a bearing 6 secured to a bedplate. Fixed to theframe 5 is a stop 7 for the receptacle.

8 and 9 are stops secured to any suitable part of the device, forinstance to the bedplate, and adapted to limit the movements of theframe. Thestop 9 is provided with a set-screw serving to control theworking period of the device.

10 is an insulated contact spring which in the position of rest of thedevice is kept pressed down by the receptacle 1 by means of theinsulated knob 11 secured thereto.

12 is an insulated contact attached to any suitable part of the device,for instance to the bed-plate, and adapted to make contact with thespring 10 in the working position of the device. The contacts 10 and 12form a switch for the lamp circuit controlled by the relay.

13 is an electromagnet preferably secured to the bed-plate and thepole-shoes of which are so arranged that the receptacle 1 may movebetween them.

The device described operates as follows: When the circuit of theelectromagnet 13 is closed, the receptacle 1 acts as an armature and isattracted between the pole-shoes of the electromagnet, until the frame 5strikes the set-screw of the stop 9. The receptacle now occupies theposition shown in Fig. 3, in which position the liquid flows from theleft part of the receptacle past the to of the partition Wall 2 to theright part o the receptacle. As soon as the circuit of the electromagnetis broken, the receptacle swings back so as to strike the stop 7,because the center of gravity of the receptacle lies to the left of thevertical plane through the pivots 4. The frame 5, however, remains stilltouching the screw of the stop 9, as the center of gravity common to thereceptacle and the frame lies to the rightof the vertical plane throughthe pivot 6. The frame remains in the position shown in Fig. 4: untilthrough the aperture 3 of the partition wall 2 has passed a quantity ofthe liquid sullicicnt to move the mentioned common center of gravity tothe left of the pivot 6.

The frame together with the receptacle 1 is then moved back to theposition of rest shown in Fig. 1 in which the contact between themembers 10 and 12 is broken and the lamps are extinguished.

A control of the working period of the device may be effected by meansof the screw of the stop 9 controlling the position of the center ofgravity of the movable system, while the apparatus occupies the positionshown in Fig. 1.

The whole of the receptacle 1 need not necessarily be made'of magneticmaterial, it being sufiicient to make the end thereof facing theelectromagnet 13 of such material or to provide said end with anarmature of magnetic material. The movement of the receptacle 1 and theframe 5 may take place in the same plane, as is shown in the drawing, orin different planes without departing from the principles of theinvention.

Having now particularly described the nature of my said invention and inwhat manner the same is to be performed, ll declare that what I claim isz 1. A time lag relay, comprising a circuit breaker, a receptacle, aliquid therein adapted to flow from one part of the receptacle toanother part thereof, a pivotally mounted frame pivotally supporting thereceptacle, and an electromagnet arranged to move the receptacle fromrest position to working position, the said receptacle and frame beingso located, that the center of gravity common to the receptacle and theliquid in the said working position and in one position of the liquidlies between the vertical planes through the pivots of the receptacleand the frame, but in the other position of the liquid on the other sideof the pivot of the frame. A

2. A time lag relay, comprising a receptacle,a liquid therein adapted toHow from one part of the receptacle to another part thereof, a pivotallymounted frame pivotally supporting the receptacle, a circuit breakeradapted to be engaged by said receptacle, and an electromagnet arrangedto move the receptacle from rest position to working position, thereceptacle and frame being so located, that the center of gravitycoon tothe receptacle and the liquid in the said working position and in oneposition of the on the other side of the pivot of the frame. 3. A timelag relay, comprising a circuit breaker, an angular receptacle, apartition wall in said receptacle leaving an open space at the upperside of the receptacle and having an aperture at the bottom of thereceptacle, a pivotally mounted frame pivotally supporting thereceptacle, an electromagnet adapted to move the receptacle from restposition to working position, and a liquid in the receptacle adapted toflow in said working position from one part of the receptacle throughsaid open space to another part thereof and in another position of thereceptacle back through the small aperture, the receptacle and framebeing so located that the center of gravity common to the receptacle andthe liquid in the working position and in one position of the liquidlies between the vertical planes through the pivots of the receptacleand the frame, but in the other position of the liquid on the other sideof the pivot of the frame.

-t. A time lag relay, comprising a circuit breaker, a receptacle, aliquid therein adapted to flow from one part of the receptacle toanother part thereof, a pivotally mounted frame pivotally supporting thereceptacle, an adjustable stop controlling the movement of the frame,and an electromagnet arranged to move the receptacle from rest positionto working position, the receptacle and frame being so located, that thecenter of gravity common to the receptacle and the liquid in the workingposition and in one position of the liquid lies between the verticalplanes through the pivots of the receptacle and the frame, but in theother position of the liquid on the other side of the pivot of theframe.

5. A time lag relay, comprising a circuit breaker, an angularreceptacle, a partition wall in said receptacle leaving an open space atthe upper side of the receptacle and having a small aperture at thebottom of the receptacle, a pivotally mounted frame pivotally supportingthe receptacle, an adjustable stop controlling the movement of theframe, an electromagnet adapted to move the receptacle from its restposition to working position, and a liquid in the receptacle adapted toflow in said working position from one part of the receptacle throughsaid open space to another part thereof and in another position of thereceptacle back through the said small aperture, the receptacle andframe being so located, that the center. of gravity common to thereceptacle and the liquid in the working position and in one position ofthe liquid lies between the vertical planes through the pivots of thereceptacle and the frame, but in the other position of the liquid on theother side of the pivot of the frame.

6. A time lag relay, comprising a circuit breaker, a receptacle, aliquid therein adapted to fiow from one part of the receptacle toanother part thereof, a. pivotally mounted frame pivotally supportingthe receptacle, an electromagnet arranged to move the receptacle fromrest position to Working position, insulated means on said receptacleadapted to actuate the said circuit breaker, the receptacle and framebeing so located, that the center of gravity common to the receptacleand the liquid in the Working position and in one position of the liquidlies between the vertical planes through the pivots of the receptacleand the frame, but in the other position of the liquid on the other sideof the pivot of the frame.

7. A time lag relay, comprising a circuit breaker, an angularreceptacle, a partition Wall in said receptacle leaving an open space atthe upper side of the receptacle and having a small aperture at thebottom of the receptacle, a pivotally mounted frame pivotally supportingthe receptacle, an adjustable stop controlling the movement of theframe, an electromagnet adapted to move the receptacle from its restposition to Working position, insulated means on said receptacle adaptedto actuate the circuit breaker, and a liquid in the receptacle adaptedto flow in said Working position from one part of the receptacle throughsaid open space to another part thereof and in another position of thereceptacle back through the small aperture, the receptacle and framebeing so located, that the center of gravity common to the receptacleand the liquid in the working position and in one position of the liquidlies between the vertical planes through the pivots of the receptacleand the frame, but in the other position of the liquid on the other sideof the pivot of the frame.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have hereuntosigned my name.

WILHELM HENNIN G PETERSEN.

